Nathaniel Hawthorne

Nathaniel Hawthorne 1804-1864 Born in Salem, Massachusetts Puritan Background Ancestor was John Hathorne – one of the three judges in the Salem Witch Trials

Hawthorne’s Background Began writing after college at Bowdion College in Maine Spent many years in seclusion – starving artist Held many jobs including writer, publisher, working at a custom house, and consul in England

His Themes in Writing Moral allegories The sinful man Hypocrisy The Dark side of Human Nature Religious in Nature

His Most Famous Works Novels Short Stories The House of Seven Gables The Scarlet Letter Short Stories “The Minister’s Black Veil” “Young Goodman Brown” “The Great Stone Face” “ The Birthmark”

“The Birthmark” His first short stories were published in Twice Told Tales (1837). Published from his collection Mosses From an Old Manse. The Scarlet Letter, 1850, put him on the map as a writer..

Who were the Puritans? Wanted a “pure” church No candles No Images No stained glass windows Rejected the “showy” church of England Led very somber lives governed solely by a strict interpretation of the Bible No “nonsense” – dancing, gambling, drama, etc

Basic Beliefs of the Puritan Church Jesus Christ is the Son of God – died on the cross for all everyone’s sins The whole Bible is the word of God and it is to be followed to the letter. The belief that these ideas are fact are known as a person’s faith

Basic Beliefs of the Puritan Church Faith is what is necessary to get into heaven. If you don’t go to heaven you go to hell. Sins, as defined by the Bible, are to be avoided at cut out of life A catechism is a book that is used to teach basic principles of the church

His puritan background seems to be reflected in the sense that much of his writing deals with questions about human morals and the faults of humankind. Positivism- a popular movement during this time that believed that all of life’s mysteries can be solved through scientific inquiry.

In the story, he challenges whether or not we should tamper with nature and conduct scientific inquiries without considering consequences manner. Science is worshiped in this story, but this is seen as problematic.

Genre- Dark Romanticism A sub-genera of romanticism that was a reaction to the transcendental movement of the 19thC. Notable writers include Edgar Allan Poe, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Herman Melville

These writers saw transcendental beliefs as too optimistic and egotistical. Characteristics of dark romantics: They do not see perfection is an innate quality of mankind

People are seen as capable of sin and self-destruction. People are not seen as inherently wise. Nature is seen as an important spiritual force. Focuses on the failures of mankind in an attempt to make changes.

Perverse or evil moral choices. Undefined guilt

http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Dark_romanticism